Final answer:
To determine the boundaries of a river system by studying a map of the US, look for features such as cut banks, point bars, and oxbow lakes. Analyzing these features will help trace the path of the river system.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the boundaries of a river system by studying a map of the US, you need to look for certain features associated with rivers. These features include cut banks, point bars, levees, oxbow lakes, thalwegs, flood plains, and terraces. By identifying these features on the map, you can trace the path of the river system.
For example, cut banks are found on the outside of bends in a river where the water erodes the bank, while point bars are formed on the inside of bends where sediment gets deposited. Oxbow lakes are formed when a meander of a river gets cut off, creating a crescent-shaped water body.
By analyzing the patterns of these features on the map, you can determine the boundaries and paths of the river system.